Pastor sentenced to eight years for attempted murder

DAR ES SALAAM: The High Court in Dar es Salaam has sentenced Pastor Kaisari Mpinge to eight years in prison for attempting to kill Jimmy Mvungi following a dispute over a pork kitchen business in Ukonga Mzambarauni, Ilala District.

Judge Hussein Mtembwa handed down the sentence after finding Pastor Kaisari guilty of attempted murder.

The prosecution, which presented five witnesses and one exhibit, proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence on October 8, 2021.

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“All elements of attempted murder have been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Based on the totality of the evidence presented, I find the accused guilty of the offence as charged,” the judge stated.

Judge Mtembwa concluded that Pastor Kaisari intended to kill the victim, pointing to multiple injuries on Mvungi’s head and the amputation of his fingers, inflicted with a panga (machete).

The judge also cited the accused’s words during the attack, “Leo lazima nikuue” (“Today, I must kill you”), as further proof of his intent to commit murder, though the attack was interrupted.

The accused’s defence, which claimed he was arrested while preaching at Banana grounds near Big Mountain Bar as part of his pastoral duties, was dismissed.

The judge deemed the prosecution’s witnesses credible, further strengthening the case.

Senior State Attorneys Ms Christina Joas and Ms Jacqueline Werema represented the Republic in the trial, while Ms Agatha Fabian defended the accused.

The conflict between Pastor Kaisari and the victim began in 2016, when Mvungi leased a pork kitchen to the accused for a monthly fee of 150,000/-. However, the accused only paid 100,000/- and eventually stopped paying altogether.

When Mvungi asked him to surrender the business, tensions escalated.

On October 8, 2021, the victim was in the kitchen with the accused at Mvungi Pub.

While taking a drink from the refrigerator, Mvungi accidentally stepped on an electric wire set by the accused and was shocked.

The accused then attacked him with a machete, injuring his head and hands, before fleeing the scene.

Mvungi’s son, who was nearby, witnessed the attack and along with others rushed the victim to Kitonga Hospital.

He was later transferred to Muhimbili Referral Hospital for further treatment.